By: Joe Strupp Maureen O'Hagan of The Seattle Times has won the 2009 Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Writing Award, according to Ball State University, which oversees the competition.
An announcement revealed she won for her article ?Aging father agonizes over fate of his son,? which was published on April 28, 2008. The article was part of a series entitled ?A Lifetime of Care.?
"O?Hagan?s award-winning story is a compelling examination of the contemporary issue of care giving for family members," the announcement stated. "It describes the challenges facing an aging father in Washington State and his autistic adult son. Because of his own declining health, the father must confront the difficult decision to institutionalize his seriously disabled child. O?Hagan spent months documenting the family?s medical, financial and emotional concerns surrounding placement of the son in a supported-living home."
Pulliam Award judges recognized O?Hagan?s distinguished reporting and writing. One judge said the story used "descriptive detail to shed light on an invisible human drama, while maintaining a respectful and dignified tone." The judge wrote: "O?Hagan?s story moved me, taught me and showed me a part of life I had never thought about before."
On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, O?Hagan will be honored with a plaque and the $1,500 prize during a luncheon, presented on behalf of the Pulliam family, who sponsor the annual writing award, administered by the BSU Department of Journalism
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